Press for belts or the like



y 1932- D. J. GREGORY ET AL 1,866,765

PRESS FOB BELTS OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 26, 1929 4 Sheets-$heet l July12, 1.9.32. 0. 'J. GREGORY ET AL 1,366,765

PRESS FOR BELTS OR THE LIKE 4 Shets-Sheet 3 D. J. GREGORY ET AL PRESSFOR BELTS OR THE LIKE Filed Sept. 26, 1929 July 12, 1932.

July 12, 1932- D. .1. GREGORY ET AL PRESS FOR BELTS OR THE LIKE FiledSept. 26, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E. E z. 2 Q i mm mm R oh 6 5 NW 2. 3 mw0 O mm 2 g E 2 .fi

Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIMI'I'RY J. GREGORY,OF NEW HAVEN, AND WILLIAM C. TIFFT, OF SEYMOUR, CON- NECTICUT, ASSIGNORSTO FARREL-BIRMINGHAM COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT PRESS FOR BELTS OR THE LIKE Application filedSeptember 26, 1929. Serial No. 395,304.

This invention relates to presses adapted to press belts or the like,and especially multiple platen presses. The invention primarilycontemplates improvements in the structure of such presses so as toincrease their capacity, efficiency and adaptability.

The requirements of such presses are that they be adapted to uniformlystretch a beltlike article or the portion thereof being pressed, be of aconstruction that is compact, and that will permit the use of aplurality of platens, and be so arranged that a plurality of belts maybe pressed therein without time Wasting interruptions. It is alsodesirable when a plurality of belts are being pressed in a multiple beltpress that there be provision to permit the action thereof upon belts ofdi-iferent widths or thicknesses substantially simultaneously, and thatall of the belts may be fed into the press from the same side.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved pressthat will be adapted to efiiciently meet the above requirements.

Another object is to provide a belt stretching mechanism for a multipleplaten press that will increase the efficient operation of such a press.

Another object is to provide a belt stretching mechanism of suchstructure that a plurality of platens may be provided in a press andefficiently operated Without interference between parts of thismechanism or othor press parts, necessitating the stretching of one beltbefore stretching the others.

A further object of this invention is to provide a press of this typewherein belts of different sizes may be efficiently stretched andpressed substantially simultaneously.

A still further object is to provide a belt stretching mechanism for apair of adjacent platens of a multiple platen press that will uniformlystretch a belt or the like, and to arrange these mechanisms in such amanner that all of the belts may be fed into the press from the sameside.

A still further object is to provide a belt stretching mechanism thatwill be efiicient for use in a multiple platen press and Whereby thebelts stretched thereby will be properly aligned with the associatedpair of platens to insure uniformity of stretch.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel featudesand combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevationalview of a multiple platen press operable byhydraulic pressure and embodying the features of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the belt clamping means forming part of thebelt stretching mechanism of our invention, and is taken as a section online 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end View of the belt clamping means and stretching meansforming a part of the belt stretching mechanism of our invention, and istaken as a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 2

Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 1

Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 2

Fig. 9 is a section on line 99 of Fig. 2

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a section on line 1111 of Fig. 7;

' Fig. 12 is a section similar to Fig. 5 but showing the clamping beamsin clamped position, and

Fig. 13 is a section similar to Fig. 9 but showing the parts in beltclamping and stretching position.

The machine selected'to illustrate the features of our invention is amultiple platen press operable by hydraulic pressure, and that isadapted to stretch and press a belt, such as a heavy conveyor belt so asto insure that no stretching of the same will take place after it isplaced in actual operation.

The press structure generally comprises a base frame 10, a plurality oflower girders 11 that extend from the front to the rear of the press andsupport a series of hydraulic cylinders 12, a plurality of upper girders13 that are spaced from and bolted to the lower girders 11 by means oftie bolts 14 and nuts 15. The press is provided with a plurality ofplatens, in this instance three, an upper platen 16, a lower platen 17and an intermediate platen 18. The upper platen 16 is secured to theupper girders 13 and extends from one end of the press to the other. Theintermediate platen is suspended from the upper platen 16 by means ofbolts 19 in such a manner as to permit relative movement between theplatens toward and away from each other, the amount of movement awayfrom each other being limited by the length of the bolt 19. The lowerplaten 17 is secured to a series of intermediate girders 20, that inturn are secured to pistons 21, that are associated with the cylinders12.

i The hydraulic cylinders 12 are provided with suitable inlets andoulets whereby fluid pressure may be applied thereto to raise thepistons 21 and thereby raise the lower platen 17 upwardly toward theintermediate platen 18, and then continue the same upwardly with theplaten 18 to engage the upper platen 16 whereby any article placedbetween elther pair of adjacent platens will have pressure appliedthereto. To assist in the separation of the platens from each otherafter the pressing operation has been completed, stripping cylinders 22and 23 are provided, which in this instance, are hydraulically operatedand are secured respectively to the upper platen 16 and the lower platen17.

A plunger 24 extends from each of the stripping cylinders 22 and 23toward a lug 25 provided upon the intermediate platen 18, and areadapted to engage the same. The stripping cylinders 22 and 23 arerequired whenever the article being pressed adheres to the platensbetween which it is disposed, and does not permit them to readilyseparate when the pressure is taken therefrom by the release of pressurefrom the cylinders 12.

In order to insure that the movement of the platens is the same both atthe front and rear of the press, a movement equalizing de vice isprovided. The movement equalizing device, in this instance, comprises aseries of vertically disposed racks 26, one encL of which is secured tothe lower platen 17. A rack 26 is Secured to the front edge of platen 17and another is secured to the rear edge of the same and disposeddirectly opposite thereto. The racks 26 extend upwardly past the uppergirders 13 and through a supporting bracke 27 that extends between apair of the upper girders 13 and is secured thereto. The teeth of therack 26 disposed at the front of the press, mesh with a gear 29,rotatably supported by the bracket 27, and the teeth of the rack 26disposed at the rear of the press mesh with a gear 28,- also rotatablysupported by the bracket 27. Gears 28 and 29 are in mesh and are keyedrespectively to shafts 30 and 31. WVhenever platen 17 is moved upwardlythe racks 26 will respectively rotate the gears 28 and 29, which beingmeshed together, will insure that the front and rear edges of the platen17 will move uniformly.

The belts that such a press is adapted to act upon are relatively long,generally much longer than the platens of the press, and, therefore, arefed gradually, by portions, between the platens. Each belt portion inbetween the platens must be stretched before pressure is applied and todo this the belt must be clamped adjacent each end of the platens beforethe stretching mechanism is operated. The press of this invention isprovided with a stretching mechanism generally comprising a pair ofclamping means disposed one at each end of each pair of platens andstretching means that is disposed at one end of each pair of platens.This arrangement permits the feeding in of the belts from the same endand the stretching of the belt portion between two adjacent platensindependently of the others.

7 A clamping means embodying features of this invention. is showndisposed adjacent the left-hand end of the press which, in thisinstance, is the belt entering end, and a clamp ing means in combinationwith a stretching means is shown adjacent the other end of the presswhich, in this case, is the belt discharge end. The clamping means atthe belt entering end of the press generally comprises a pair of clampbeams 32 and 33, that are supported at their front and rear ends uponguide-bars 34 and 35, respectively. The clamp beam 32 is slidablymounted upon bars 34 and 35, while the beam 33 is securely fastenedthereto. The clamp beams 32 and 33 are provided with cooperating beltengaging surfaces 36 and 37 respectively, which, in the embodimentillustrated, are inclined at a relatively slight angle from thehorizontal to provide a belt clamping surface of comparatively largearea, and to prevent the straining of the belt fibers and objectionablemarling of its surface which might result from the clamping surfacesbeing at too great an angle with respect to the direction of pull.

Movement of one clamp beam toward the other, in this instance, in agenerally horizontal direction, will cause a belt to be clamped betweenthe opposing surfaces 36 and 37. A pair of pistons 38, each of whichoperates within a cylinder 39 by hydraulic pressure, provides the means,in this instance, whereby the relative movement between the beams 32 and33 is obtained. The cylinders 39 are disposed and secured withinopenings 40 formed in the clamp beam 33, and pressure fluid may entertherein through an inlet 41 provided in each cylinder 39. Each of thepistons 38 is secured to a cross-head 42, and through bolts 43 thatextend from each cross-head 42 to lugs 44 formed on the clamp beam 32will draw the same toward the clamp beam 33 when the pistons are actedupon by the fluid pressure entering into the cylinders 39 through theirrespective inlets 41. A pair of pistons 45 are secured to beam 33 byrods 46, and are disposed in cylinders 47 that are secured withinopenings 48 formed in the clamp beam 32. Operation of pistons 45 byadmitting fluid pressure thereagainst into cylinders 47 will force thebeams 32 and 33 apart, whereby the belt clamped therebetween may bereleased.

The combined clamping and stretching means located at the discharge endof the press, generally comprises a pair of clamp beams 49 and 50 thatare supported at their front and rear ends upon guide bars 51 and 52respectively. The clamp beams 49 and 50 are slidably mounted upon guidebars 51 and 52, and are provided with cooperating belt engaging surfaces53 and 54, which, in the embodiment illustrated, are inclined at arelatively slight angle from the horizontal to provide a belt clampingsurface of comparatively large area, and likewise to prevent thestraining of the belt fibers and objectionable marking of its surfacewhich might result from the clamping surfaces being at too great anangle with respect to the direction of pull. A movement of one clampbeam relatively toward the other, in this instance, in a generallyhorizontal direction, will cause a belt to be clamped between theopposing surfaces 53 and 54 thereof. A pair of pistons 55, each of whichoperates within a cylinder 56 by hydraulic pressure, provides the means,in this instance, whereby the relative movement between the beams 49 and50 is obtained.

Cylinders 56 are disposed and secured within openings 57 formed in theclamp beam 49, and pressure fluid may enter therein through an inlet 58provided in each cylind-er. Each of the pistons 55 is secured to across-head 59, and through bolts 60 that extend from each cross-head 59to lugs 61 formed on the clamp beam 50 will draw the beams 49 and 50toward each other when the pistons are acted upon by the fluid pressureentering into the cylinders 56, through their respective inlets 58. Apair of pistons 62 are secured to beam 49 by rods 63, and are disposedin cylinders 64 that are secured within openings 65 formed in the clampbeam 50. Operation of pistons 62 by admitting fluid pressuretherea-gainst into cylinder 64, will force the beams 49 and 50 apartwhereby the belt clamped therebetween may be released.

After the portion of the belt or the like being acted upon has beenclamped at the entering end of the press between clamp beams 32 and 33,and at the discharge end of the parts between clamp beams 49 and 50, itis stretched before the platens are pressed together to press the same.In this instance, this belt portion is stretched by the use of fluidpressure supplied through inlets 66 to cylinders 67, formed in each ofthe support ing bars 51 and 52, and acting against pistons 68 operabletherein to move in a direction away from the discharge end of the press.Each of the pistons 68 bears outwardly upon a cross-bar 69 and by meansof tie bolts 70 that are secured to clamp beam 49 at 71 and cross-bar 69will tend to move the beam 49 and beam 50 clamped thereto outwardly. Asboth of the beams 49 and 50 are slidable upon the supporting bars 51 and52, they will be moved away from the press and the portion of the beltheld thereby between the cooperating clamping surfaces 53 and 54 thereofand disposed between them and beams 32 and 33, will be stretched.

The beam supporting bars 34 and 35 and 51 and 52 are slidably mounted ateach end thereof in uprights 72. A piston 73 operable by fluid pressurewithin a cylinder 7 4, is disposed below each end of each of thelowermost supporting bars, and when operated to raise the same willraise the clamping beams carried thereby. By continued movement of thepiston 73, the clamping beams being raised thereby will raise theclamping beams disposed thereabove due to the engagement of spacingblocks '75 secured to these beams and disposed therebetween. Suitablearrangement is made through proper fluid pressure controls and anequalizing device to insure tiat the beams are raised substantially inunison with the platens so that the surface of the beams nearest theadjacent end of a corresponding platen "ill be in alignment with theupper surface thereof so as to insure that the belt portion disposedbetween the clamping beams 32 and 33 and 49 and 50 wil lie substantiallyhorizontal throughout its length. The lowern'iost clamp beam supportingbars 34 and 35 and 51 and 52, are sup ported upon the pistons 73, whilethe overying supporting bars for the uppermost or overlying clamp beamsare retained in spaced relation above the same and limited in respect totheir downward movement by the cooperation of stop blocks 92 securedupon the inner edge of uprights 72 and laterally extending lugs 93 thatare provided upon each end of each of the uppermost supporting bars. Bythis arrangement these bars are permitted to rise but are limited intheir downward movement and the lowermost oars may raise and not beinterfered with by any part of the supporting uprights.

An equalizing device is provided to more precisely insure that the clampbeams rise in unison with their corresponding platens. Shafts 30 and 31are extended beyond the press at each end thereof. The ends of shafts 30and 31 that extend beyond the press at the entering end thereof arejournaled in brackets 76 and 77, respectively. The bractets 76 and 77are mounted upon a cross-frame 78 and disposed over the clamp beam 33. Apair of racks 79 extend upwardly from the lowermost clamp beam 33,through suitable l in openings in the overlying clamp beam 33 and thecross-frame 78. A pair of gears 80 and 81 rotatably mounted upon shafts30 and 31, respectively, are meshed together and dis posed betweenracks'79, the teeth of the rack adjacent each gear being in mesh withthe teeth thereof.

The ends of shafts 30 and 31 that extend beyond the discharge end of thepress, are journaled in bearings 82 and 83 respectively, that aredisposed upon a cross-frame 8i and are then further extended andjournaled in bearings 85 and 86 respectively, that are disposed upon across-frame 87. The lowermost supporting bars 51 and 52 are securedtogether by means of cross-bars 88 that extend from each end of one tothe corresponding end of the other supporting bar. A toothed rack 89 issecured to each cross-bar 88 and extends upwardly through the respectivecrossframes 84 and 87, where the teeth thereof re spectively mesh with apair of meshed together gears 90 and 91 that are secured to shafts 30and 31 respectively. The racks 79 and 89 with the respective meshedgears 80 and 81 and 90 and 91 act with the racks 26 and meshed gears 28and 29 to insure movement of the platens and clamp beams in unison.

The operation of a press of the type de scribed, consists in feeding theportion of the belt or the like to be pressed through the same betweenthe clamp beams 32 and 33, between a pair of the platens, for instance17 and 18, and then between the clamp beams 1-9 and 50. Hydraulicpressure may then be supplied to cylinders 39 to act upon pistons 38,whereby beam 32 will be moved toward beam 83 to clamp the belt portionbetween the surfaces 36 and 37 thereof. Hydraulic pressure is thensupplied to cylinders 56 which act upon pistons 55 to cause a relativemovement between beams 49 and 50, to clamp the belt portion disposedbetween the surfaces 53 and 54- thereof. Hydraulic pressure is thensupplied to cylinders 67 to act upon pistons 68, which through means ofbolts 70 will draw the beams 49 and 50 away from the press to stretchthe portion of the belt held between the beams 32 and 33 and the beams49 and 50.

After stretching the belt as above de scribed, hydraulic pressure issupplied to cylinders 12 and acts upon the pistons 21 to raise theplaten 17 toward the platen 18 whereby the portion of the belttherebetween will be pressed as desired. After pressing the belt asabove described, pressure is released from cylinders 12 to permit theplaten 17 to drop away from platen 18 to release the belt portiontherebetweenj Should the belt, for any reason, adhere to the platens andtend to retain them together, stripping plungers 23 are operated toassist in separating the same. Pressure is then released from thestretching cylinder 67 and the clamping cylinders 39 and 56 to releasethe belt from the action thereof. The clamp beams 32 and 33 and clampbeams 49 and 50 are then separated from each other respectively bysupplying fluid pressure into cylinders 47 and 64, to act upon thepistons 45 and 62. The belt may then be drawn through the press andclamp beams a sufficient amount to dispose an unpressed portion thereofbetween the platents whereupon the press may again be operated, as abovedescribed.

By the provision of a press embodying the features of this invention asabove pointed out, a belt or plurality of belts may be pressedefliciently and economically with the assurance that it or they will beuniformly stretched and pressed over the entire length and widththereof. The provision of an independent elamping and stretchingmechanism in association with each pair of platens of a multiple platenpress permits the stretching and pressing of a plurality of beltssubstantially simultaneously, even though they be of different width orthickness. Means has been provided whereby the clamp beams andstretching means may always be disposed in proper position horizontallywith respect to the associated pair of platens. By disposing the clampan d stretching mechanism in a horizontal plane, the feeding of a beltor belts straight through the press is facilitated and when a pluralityof belts is being pressed they may all be fed through from the sameside. Due to the above provisions in a press of this type, a pluralityof platens, even in eXcess of three, may be provided and, therefore, thecapacity of such a press will be greatly increased.

While we have shown and described a preferred embodiment of ourinvention, it is understood that it is not to be limited to all of thedetails shown, but is capable of modification and variation which willlie within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

l/Vhat we claim is:

1. A press for beltlike articles comprising article pressing meansincluding a movable platen, article clamping means disposed at one endof said pressing means, and article stretching means disposed at theother end of said pressing means, said clamping and stretching meansbeing disposed substantially in the same plane and movable substantiallyin unison with said platen.

2. A press for belt-like articles comprising article pressing meansincluding a movable platen, article clamping means disposed at one endof said pressing means and article stretching means disposed at theother end of said pressing means, said clamping and stretching meansbeing disposed substantially in the same plane and substantially inalignment, and means to move said clamping and said stretching meanssubstantially in unison with said movable platen.

3. A press for belt-lilre articles comprising article pressing meansincluding a movable platen, article clamping means disposed at one endof said pressing means and article stretching means disposed at theother end of said pressing means, said stretching means being movablehorizontally away from said platen to stretch the article, all of saidmeans being disposed substantially in the same plane and substantiallyin alignment, and means to raise said clamping and stretching means tomaintain them in alignment.

4. A press for belt-like articles comprising article pressing meansincluding a movable platen, article clamping means disposed at one endof said pressing means and article stretching means, said stretchingmeans being movable horizontally away from said platen, all of saidmeans being disposed substantially in the same plane and SLlbStil11tially in alignment, means to raise said platen and said clamping andstretching means to maintain them in alignment, and means to insure thatthe raising movement of all of said means will be in unison.

5. In a press for belt-like articles, a plurality of article pressingplatens, article clamping means at each end of the adjacent platens, andarticle stretching means at one end of a pair of adjacent platens.

6. In a press for belt-like articles, a plurality of article pressingplatens, article 2 clamping means at each end of the adjacent platens,and article stretching means at one end of each pair of adjacentplatens, all of said stretching means being disposed at the same end ofsaid platens.

7. In a press for belt-like articles, a plurality of article pressingplatens, and article clamping means at one end of the adjacent platens,and a combined article clamping and stretching means at the other end ofeach pair of adjacent platens.

8. In a press for belt-like articles, a plurality of article pressingplatens, and article clamping means at one end of the adjacent platens,and a combined article clamping and stretching means at the other end ofeach pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said clamping meansand said combined clamping and stretching means in unison.

9. In a multiple platen belt press, belt clamping means at one end ofeach pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said clamping means inunison with the movements of the corresponding pair of platens.

10. In a multiple platen belt press, belt clamping means at one end ofeach pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said clamping means inunison with the move ments of the corresponding pair of platens, beltclamping means at the other end of each pair of adjacent platens, andmeans to raise said last mentioned clamping means in unison with themovement of the corresponding pair of platens.

11. In a multiple platen belt press, belt clamping means at one end ofeach pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said clamping means inunison with the movement-s of the corresponding pair of platens, beltclamping means at the other end of each pair of adjacent platens, andmeans to raise said last mentioned clamping means in unison with themovement of the corresponding pair of platens, and other means to insurethat both belt clamping means rise in unison.

12. In a multiple platen belt press, belt clamping means at one end ofeach pair of adjacent platens, belt clamping means at the other end ofeach pair of adjacent platens, and belt stretching means at an end ofeach pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said stretching meansin unison with the movement of its corresponding pair of platens. V

13. In a multiple platen belt press, belt clamping means at one end ofeach pair of adjacent platens, belt clamping means at the other end ofeach pair of adjacent platens, and belt stretching means at an end ofeach pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said stretching meansand the clamping means at the same end of each pair of platens in unisonwith the movement of the corresponding pair of platens.

14,-. In a multiple platen belt press, belt clamping means at one end ofeach pair of adjacent platens, belt clamping means at the other end ofeach pair of adjacent platens, and belt stretching means at an end ofeach pair of adjacent platens, and means to raise said stretching meansand both of said clamping means in unison with the movement of thecorresponding pair of platens.

15. In a multiple platen belt press, belt clamping means at each end ofeach pair of adjacent'platens, and a belt stretching means associatedwith each of said clamping means at one. end of each pair of adjacentplatens, and cooperating means to insure that said platen, said clampingmeans and said stretching means rise in unison during the pressingmovement of said platens.

16. In a multiple platen press, a horizontally disposed belt clampingand stretching mechanism disposed at one end of each pair of cooperatingplatens.

17 In a multiple platen belt press means to receive and press separatebelts between adjacent pairs of platens, and means to stretch one beltindependently of another.

18. In a multiple platen belt press adapted to receive and pressseparate belts between adjacent pairs of platens, means at one end ofsaid press to clamp each belt independent- 6} belt pressing platensdisposed substantially in a horizontal plane, belt clamping means ateach end of said platens, and belt stretching means at one end of saidplatens, said clamping means and said stretching means being operablymovable in a horizontal direction.

20. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receiveand press a belt therebetween by movement of one toward the other, beltclamping means at one end of said platens and movable in a directionsubstantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp the, belt,and belt clamping and stretching means at the other end of said platensand movable in a direction substantially parallel to the length of saidplatens to clamp and stretch the belt.

21. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receiveand press a belt therebetween by movement of one toward the other, beltclamping means at one end of said platens and operable in a directionsubstantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp the belt,and belt clamping and stretching means at the other end of said platensand operable in a direction substantially parallel to the length of saidplatens to clamp and stretch the belt, and means to move said clampingmeans and said clamping and stretching means substantially in unisonwith and in the same direction as the movement of one of said platenstoward the other.

22. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receiveand press a belt therebetween by movement of one toward the other, meansto insure that opposite edges of the moving platen move in unison, beltclamping means at one end of said platens and operable in a directionsubstantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp the beltand belt clamping and stretching means at the other end of said platensoperable in a directionsubstantially parallel to the length of saidplatens to clamp and stretch the belt. v i

23. In a belt press, a pairof cooperating platens adapted to receive andpress a belt therebetween by movement of one toward the other, means toinsure that opposite edges of the moving platen move in unison, beltclamping means at one end of said platens and operable in a directionsubstantially par allel to the length of said platens to clamp the belt,and belt clamping and stretching means at the other end of said platensand operable in a direction substantially parallel to the length of saidplatens to clamp and stretch the belt, and means to move said clampingmeans and said clamping and stretching means substantially in unisonwith and in the same direction as the movement of one of said platenstoward the other.

24. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receiveand press a belt therebetween by movement of one toward the other, meansto insure that opposite edges of the moving platen move in unison, beltclamping means at one end of said platens and operable in a directionsubstantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp the belt,and belt clamping and stretching means at the other end of said platensand operable in a direction substantially parallel to the length of saidplatens to clamp and stretch the belt, and means to move said clampingmeans and said clamping and stretching means substantially in unisonwith and in the same direction as the movement of one of said platenstoward the other, and means to insure that said clamping and saidclamping and stretching means move in unison with each other in thedirection of the movement of the moving platen.

25. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receiveand press a belt therebetween by movement of one toward the other, meansto insure that opposite edges of the moving platen move in unison, beltclamping means at one end of said platens and operable in a directionsubstantially parallel to the length of said platens to clamp the belt,and belt clamping and stretching means at the other end of said platensand operable in a direction substantially parallel to the length of saidplatens to clamp and stretch the belt, and means to move said clampingmeans and said clamping and stretching means substantially in unisonwith and in the same direction as the movement of one of said platenstoward the other, and means to insure that said clamping and saidclamping and stretching means move in unison with each other in thedirection of the movement of the moving platen, said movement insuringmeans being adapted to insure that said clamping and said clamping andstretching means move in unison with the moving platen. v

26. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating belt pressing platen-s, apair of clamp beams disposed at one end of said platens and mounted uponsupporting bars, one of said clamp beams being slidable upon said barsand the other of said clamp beams being secured thereto, means to movesaid slidable clamp beam toward the other in a direction substantiallyparallel to the length of said platens to clamp a belt therebeween apair of clamp beams disposed at the other end of said platens andmounted upon supporting bars, both of said last mentioned pair of clampbeams being slidably mounted upon said bars, means to move said lastmentioned clamp beams relatively to each other, and

means to move said last mentioned pair of clamp beams in a directionsubstantially parallel to the length of said platens and away from saidfirst mentioned clamp beams to stretch the belt portion extendingtherebetween.

27. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating belt pressing platensrelatively movable to press a belt therebetween, a pair of clamp beamsdisposed at one end of said platens and mounted upon supporting bars,one of said clamp beams being slidable upon said bars and the other ofsaid clamp beams being secured thereto, means to move said slidableclamp beam toward the other in a direction substantially parallel to thelength of said platens to clamp a belt therebetween, a pair of clampbeams disposed at the other end of said platens and mounted uponsupporting bars, both of said last mentioned pair of clamp beams beingslidably mounted upon said bars, means to move said last mentioned clampbeams relatively to each other, and means to move said last mentionedpair of clamp beams in a direction substantially parallel to the lengthof said platens and away from said first mentioned clamp beams tostretch the belt portion extending therebetween, and means to move eachof said supporting bars in the direction of movement of said platenswhen pressing a belt therebetween.

28. In a belt press, a pair of cooperating belt pressing platensrelatively movable to press a belt therebetween, a pair of clamp beamsdisposed at one end of said platens and mounted upon supporting bars,one of said clamp beams being slidable upon said bars and the other ofsaid clamp beams being secured thereto, means to move said slidableclamp beam toward the other in a direction substantially parallel to thelength of said platens to clamp a belt therebetween, a pair of clampbeams disposed at the other end of said platens and mounted uponsupporting bars, both of said last mentioned pair of clamp beams beingslidably mounted upon said bars, means to move said last mentioned clampbeams relatively to each other, and means to move said last mentionedpair of clamp beams in a direction substantially parallel to the lengthof said platens and away from said first mentioned clamp beams tostretch the belt portion extending therebetween, and means to move eachof said supporting bars in the direction of movement oi said platenswhen pressing a belt therebetween, and means to insure that the platensand clamp beam supporting bars move in unison in the direction ofmovement of said platens when pressing a belt thereb-etween.

29. In a press hav'n a pair or horizontal platens, a clamping device ateach end of said platens, each clamping device having parts adapted toreceive an end portion of an article therebetween and being relativelymovable in a horizontal plane to clamp the end of the articletherebetween.

30. In a press having a pair of horizontal platens, a clamping andstretching device at one end of said platens, said device having partsadapted to receive an end portion of an article therebetween and beingrelatively movable in a horizontal plane to clamp the end of the articletherebetween, said device being movable in a horizontal plane to stretchthe article.

31. In a press having a pair of horizontal platens, a clamping device ateach end of said platens, means to move one of said clamping deviceshorizontally away from said platens, said platens being relativelymovable toward each other, and means to'move said clamping devicessubstantially in unison with, and in the same direction as, the movableplaten.

32. In a press having a pair of horizontal platens, a clamping andstretching device at one end of said platens, said device being movablein a horizontal plane to stretch the article being pressed, and means tomove said device in the direction of the pressing movement of saidplatens and substantially in unison. therewith.

33. In a press, a pair of cooperating pressing platens disposedsubstantially in a horizontal plane, article clamping means at each endof said platens, and an article stretching means at one end of saidplatens, said clamping means and said stretching means being movable tocooperate with said platens to retain the article being pressed in ahorizontal plane.

34. In a press, a pair of movably c0operating pressing platens disposedsubstantially in a horizontal plane, article clamping means at each endof said platens, an article stretching means at one end of said platens,and means to move said clamping and said stretching means substantiallyin unison with the movement of one of said platens to retain the articlebeing pressed in a horizon tal plane.

35. In a press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receive andpress an article therebetween by movement of one toward the other,article clamping means at one end of said platens, article clamping andstretching means at the other end of said platens, said clamping andsaid clamping and stretching means being movable in the same directionas the pressing movement of said platens, and means to move saidclamping and said clamping and stretching means substantially in unisonwith the movement of the movable platen.

36. In a press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receive andpress an article therebetween by movement of one toward the other,horizontally movable clamping means at one end of said platens, andmeans to move as the movement of said platens and in unison saidclamping means substantially in unison therewith.

with, and in the same direction as, the move ment of the movable platento retain the article being pressed in a straight line.

37. In a press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receive andpress an article therebetween by movement of one toward the other,article clamping means at one end of said platens, means to move saidclamping means horizontally away from said platens, means to move saidclamping means in the same direction as the movement of the movableplaten to retain the article being pressed in a straight line, and meansto cause said clamping means and movable platen to move substantially inunison.

88. In a press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receive andpress an article therebetween by movement of one toward the other,article clamping means at one end of said platens, means to move saidclamping means horizontally away from said platens, and fluid pressureoperated means to move said clamping means in the same direction as themovement of the movable platen to retain the article being pressed in astraight line, and means operated by the movable platen to cause theclamping means to move in unison therewith.

39. In a press, a pair of cooperating platens adapted to receive andpress an article therebetween by movement of one toward the other,clamping means at one end of said platens, said clamping means beingmovable to cooperate with said platens to retain the article beingpressed in a straight line, and means, including fluid pressure operateddevices, to move said clamping means substantially in unison with themovement of the movable platen, said last named means including means tosynchronize the movement of said clamping means with the movement s ofthe movable platen.

40. In a press. a pair of horizontal platens, a cl ampingr device ateach end of said platens, each of said clamping devices havingcoopcrating parts relatively movable in a horizontal plane to clamp anend of an article therebetween, and means to move one of said clampingdevices in a horizontal plane after said parts are in clamping positionto stretch the article.

41. In a press, a pair of horizontal platens, a clamping device at eachend of said platens, each of said clamping devices having cooperatingpartsrelatively movable in a horizontal plane to clamp an end of anarticle therebetween, means to move one of said clamping devices in ahorizontal plane after said parts are in clamping position to stretchthe article, means to move said platens into article pressing position,and means to move said clamping devices in the same direction I11witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 19th day ofSeptember, 1929. I

DIMITRY J. GREGORY. WILLIAM C. TIFFT.

